Most Recent Weekly Report: 4 February-10 February 2015

SVERT reported that weak steam-and-gas emissions from Chirinkotan were detected in satellite images on 6 and 8 February. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 2-9 February. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

Most Recent Bulletin Report: December 2013 (BGVN 38:12)

In 1979-1980, an eruption at Chirinkotan included a series of ash explosions and a lava flow (SEAN 05:06). In October and November 1986, airborne observers saw a column of thick gas and ash, and then fumarolic activity (SEAN 12:04). This report discusses events during 2013 through April 2014. The location of Chirinkotan in the Kuril Islands is shown in figure 1.

According to the Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT), gas-and-steam emissions occurred frequently in 2013-2014 (table 1). The Aviation Color Code was Green on 24-25 May 2013, when emissions were first reported, but raised to Yellow during early June 2013, where it has remained through April 2014, the end of this report. The volcano was often obscured by clouds.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, an M 8.3 earthquake occurred on 24 May 2013 beneath the Sea of Okhotsk, at a point is 656 km N of the volcano. The focal depth of the earthquake was ~ 600 km. The first reported gas-and-steam emission from Chirinkotan, which is in the Sea of Okhotsk, was on 24-25 May, suggesting a possible link between the two events.

Table 1. SVERT-reported dates on which gas-and-steam emissions were observed from 24 May 2013 through 30 April 2014, based on analysis of satellite images. Thermal alerts detected by SVERT and the MODVOLC satellite thermal alert system are also noted.

Index of Weekly Reports

Weekly Reports

4 February-10 February 2015

SVERT reported that weak steam-and-gas emissions from Chirinkotan were detected in satellite images on 6 and 8 February. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 2-9 February. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that weak steam-and-gas emissions from Chirinkotan were detected in satellite images on 31 January. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 26 January-2 February. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that weak steam-and-gas emissions from Chirinkotan were detected in satellite images during 13-14 January. A thermal anomaly was visible on 13 and 15 January. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that steam-and-gas emissions detected in satellite images rose 3 km above Chirinkotan and drifted SE on 5 January. A thermal anomaly was visible during 8 and 10-11 January. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 6-12 January. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Chirinkotan was detected in satellite images on 30 December. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 29 December-5 January. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Chirinkotan was detected in satellite images on 15 and 21 December. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 16-22 December. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Chirinkotan was detecetd in satellite images during 10-11 and 13-14 December. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 8-15 December. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that satellite images of Chirinkotan showed a thermal anomaly during 2-5 and 7 December, and diffuse gas-and-steam emissions on 3 December. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 1-8 December. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that since 21 November a thermal anomaly and increased gas-and-steam emissions at Chirinkotan were detected in satellite images. A thermal anomaly was detected on 25 November, and a diffuse steam-and-gas plume drifted 40 km SE on 27 November. Steam-and-gas emissions were again observed on 28 and 30 November. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Yellow.

SVERT reported that satellite images of Chirinkotan showed diffuse gas-and-steam emissions on 24 March and steam-and-gas plumes drifting 80-170 km SE during 26-27 March. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 25-31 March. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that a steam-and-gas plume from Chirinkotan was observed in satellite images drifting more than 80 km SE on 20 March. Diffuse steam-and-gas emissions were observed during 21-22 March. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 17-19 and 23-24 March. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Chirinkotan was observed in satellite images on 10 and 13 March. Steam-and-gas emissions were observed on 10 March and drifted more than 40 km SW on 12 March. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 11-17 March. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Chirinkotan was observed in satellite images on 25 February and gas-and-steam emissions were observed on 27 February. Cloud cover obscured views on other days during 24 February-3 March. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Chirinkotan was observed in satellite images on 20 February. Cloud cover obscured views on other days during 17-24 February. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Chirinkotan was observed in satellite images on 12 and 15 February, and steam-and-gas emissions were observed on 16 February. Cloud cover obscured views on other days during 11-17 February. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Chirinkotan was observed in satellite images on 8 February, and steam-and-gas emissions were observed on 9 February. Cloud cover obscured views on other days during 4-10 February. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Chirinkotan was observed in satellite images on 15 and 17 January. Gas-and-steam emissions were also observed on 17 January. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 14-20 January. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Chirinkotan was observed in satellite images on 9 and 12 January. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 7-13 January. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Chirinkotan was observed in satellite images during 25-26 December. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 23-30 December. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Chirinkotan was observed in satellite images on 9, 12, and 15 December. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 10-16 December. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Chirinkotan was observed in satellite images on 9, 12, and 15 December. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 10-16 December. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that during 29-31 October, steam-and-gas emissions from Chirinkotan were detected in satellite images; thermal anomalies were also detected during this time. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that during 21-25 October steam-and-gas emissions from Chirinkotan were detected in satellite images. A thermal anomaly was detected on 24 October. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that during 17-19 October a thermal anomaly from Chirinkotan was detected in satellite images along with gas-and-steam emissions drifting 30-60 km SE. Cloud cover prevented observations on the other days during 14-21 October. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

Based on analysis of satellite images, SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly and gas-and-steam emissions from Chirinkotan were observed on 5 and 9 August. A thermal anomaly was visible on 7 August, and possible gas-and-steam emissions were observed on 7 and 8 August. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

Based on analysis of satellite images, SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly from Chirinkotan was observed on 22 July. Weak steam-and-gas emissions and a weak thermal anomaly were observed on 25 July. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

Based on analysis of satellite images, SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly and possible weak steam-and-gas emissions from Chirinkotan were observed on 16 and 18 July. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

Based on analysis of satellite images, SVERT reported that weak steam-and-gas emissions from Chirinkotan were observed on 12 July and a thermal anomaly was detected during 12-13 July. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

Based on analysis of satellite images, SVERT reported that steam-and-gas emissions from Chirinkotan were observed on 3 July and a thermal anomaly was detected on 4 July. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

Bulletin Reports

All information contained in these reports is preliminary and subject to change.

06/1980 (SEAN 05:06)Lava flows and ash explosions

In April 1979, an eruption began from Chirinkotan volcano, which forms an isolated, uninhabited island about 3 km in diameter. Block lava flowed down the SSW flank in April and May. Ash explosions occurred regularly during the summer of 1979 and explosive activity increased in October. In January and April 1980, moderate explosions occurred 1-2 times per hour.

Chirinkotan was observed from the air 11, 12, and 31 October, and 2 November. A thick gas and ash column reached 700-800 m above the crater, and drifted 6-8 km downwind on 11 October. Intense gas emission occurred throughout the crater. On 12 October gas emission was less intense but a gas cloud reached 400-600 km high and was 3-4 km long despite a strong wind. By 31 October fumarolic activity had diminished significantly. On the E crater slope a few groups of large fumaroles were observed. A gas plume 200 m in diameter was 250 m high and 800-900 m long. Flank ashfall had been covered by snow that fell 12-13 October. Activity was similar on 2 November.

In 1979-1980, an eruption at Chirinkotan included a series of ash explosions and a lava flow (SEAN 05:06). In October and November 1986, airborne observers saw a column of thick gas and ash, and then fumarolic activity (SEAN 12:04). This report discusses events during 2013 through April 2014. The location of Chirinkotan in the Kuril Islands is shown in figure 1.

According to the Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT), gas-and-steam emissions occurred frequently in 2013-2014 (table 1). The Aviation Color Code was Green on 24-25 May 2013, when emissions were first reported, but raised to Yellow during early June 2013, where it has remained through April 2014, the end of this report. The volcano was often obscured by clouds.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, an M 8.3 earthquake occurred on 24 May 2013 beneath the Sea of Okhotsk, at a point is 656 km N of the volcano. The focal depth of the earthquake was ~ 600 km. The first reported gas-and-steam emission from Chirinkotan, which is in the Sea of Okhotsk, was on 24-25 May, suggesting a possible link between the two events.

Table 1. SVERT-reported dates on which gas-and-steam emissions were observed from 24 May 2013 through 30 April 2014, based on analysis of satellite images. Thermal alerts detected by SVERT and the MODVOLC satellite thermal alert system are also noted.

The small, mostly unvegetated 3-km-wide island of Chirinkotan occupies the far end of an E-W-trending volcanic chain that extends nearly 50 km west of the central part of the main Kuril Islands arc. Chirinkotan is the emergent summit of a volcano that rises 3000 m from the floor of the Kuril Basin. A small 1-km-wide caldera about 300-400 m deep is open to the SE. Lava flows from a cone within the breached crater reached the north shore of the island. Historical eruptions have been recorded at Chirinkotan since the 18th century. Fresh lava flows also descended the SE flank of Chirinkotan during an eruption in the 1880s that was observed by the English fur trader Captain Snow.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Synonyms

Tirinkotan | Chirinkutan | Cherinkutan

The small, mostly unvegetated 3-km-wide island of Chirinkotan is the emergent summit of a volcano that rises 3000 m from the floor of the Kuril Basin. Submarine terraces are lacking around the island, suggesting the edifice is of Holocene age. Chirinkotan lies at the far end of an E-W-trending volcanic chain that extends nearly 50 km west of the central part of the main Kuril Islands arc. Historical eruptions have been recorded at Chirinkotan since the 18th century, including one observed by the English fur trader Captain Snow.

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography. Discussion of another volcano or eruption (sometimes far from the one that is the subject of the manuscript) may produce a citation that is not at all apparent from the title.

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).